Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-03-11


,,,,.,.
i history Of l6ncoln's 81 Derilous NIGHT
IjourneY fromu Iarrisb burg to Washing
ton. We give the conclu sion Of his ar
Iticle withoutl ubrid cement. He saws:
The change in the program Of the jour
Iney occurred al Harrisburg at dinner
the night Of the 21st, which was pre-
sided over by Gov. Curtin, and the cir
cumstances are told by Alexander K
cClure in a paper to the Glover
Club Of Philhdelp hia. It seems that
Gen. Scott and Mr.. Seward, being for
some reason alarmed at the continu-
ance BY Mi. Lincoln of the original
| plan Of his tourney, sent i dispatch to-
Gov. Curtin, which was received at the
dinner over which lie was presiding at;
Harrisburg. I give the language Of;
Mr.. McC luue;.
while all were intent on the enioy-.
ment Of a dinner, with the new prssi-.
dent as thas central figure of the feast,
q message was brought by servant,
and quietly handed to Gov. Curtin,
The mere, interruption Of presenting O.
message to the Governor in his own,
Capital attracted no special attention;
but when. the smile fled and : sudden.
cloud OF despair fixed itself upon his
face thsne was ominous silence and
painful suspense around the table
before word was SPOKEN. Mr.
Lincoln, was among the first to note
that a. shadow had been suddenly flung
upon the circle, and he did not conceal
This anxiety to learn the cause. Fhe
truth was soon made known by Gov.
CURTIN. The message heshad received
was, JOINT one from Gen. WinGeld
Scott and Senator Seward, who had
already been designated as Premier of
the new Administration, and it notified
the Governor that Mr.. Lincoln could
not pass through Baltimore alive the
following day, and peremptorily COM
( manded change ofroute and program
to save the life Of the President-elect.
"It is needless to say that the occa-
sion was no longer one of festiyity.
! The solemnity of the funeral quickly
enthroned itself where there had been
pleasant converse and welcome wit but
q moment before. All but ono of the
dozen or more men present seemed
utterly appalled,, and that one was
Abraham LINCOLN. While every other
lace was pale with apprehension, he
malntaneo tne same SOBER SAD express
SION . tnat ne nad exhibited from the be-
ginning ana as usuat ne SAD nothing
untll ali the others had spoken and be
was personally appealed to for his
news one Ioy one' beginning with
!. uoV. Curtln' eaoh gave pointed express
sion 70 tne Judgment that Mr.. Lincoln 8
route ana program must be changed
ana tnat ~ u must oe done without pub,
ilclty. Inc silence OF mr.: Lincoln had
naraiy neen noted until all but himself
naa SPOKEN IN the intensity OF their
1eehngs; ana then, as II suddenly
called 10 the recollection OF the pres
ence OF tne man who was the decreed
vlcum OF tne assassin all turned TO hlm
for counsel. Even when personally ap-
pealed TO, ne seemed reluctant to an
| sWer' OUT "hen pressed TO acqmesce IN
the unanimous Judgment OF his friends
ne sald' with scarcely tremor IN ms
clear voice; what would the people
tnlnk OF their ruler, stealing INTO his
Capital IKE a thief IN the night. s.
He seemed to think little Of the peril
I to his life, but he thought much of the
peril Of forfeiting the respect Of the
Nation. Mr.. Lincoln's unwillingness
to assent to- change of route and pro
gram brought the dinner guests to face
J, q new duty. Instead of suggesting,
one by one they followed Gov. Curtin
in commanding. and the President-elect
was notified that the time and manner
OF pursuing his journey to Washington
nag passed. Deyond MS dlscretlon' and
tnat ne must ae1er 70 such measures as
, could be devised Tor his safety. He